Monday, June 20, 2011

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Combating The High School Dropout Rate
KXO Radio, El Centro, California – June 19, 2011
There is promising news for teens at risk of dropping out of high school with new programs designed to help them stay in school and succeed. This comes after a 2006 study by Bridgeland, Dilulio & Morison found that 80 percent of high school dropouts said their chances of staying in school would have increased if classes were more interesting and provided opportunities for real-world learning.

Gateway to College program helps high school dropouts
The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa – June 16, 2011
Des Moines Area Community College is offering its Gateway to College program this fall for students who dropped out of high school. This is not a GED program, but a high school completion program that gives students the opportunity to earn college credits while completing their high school diploma.

School dropout turned High Court judge honored
Brisbane Times, Australia – June 13, 2011
A high school dropout who became Australia's third female High Court judge has been awarded the highest Queen's Birthday honor. Justice Susan Kiefel has been appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia for eminent service to the law and to the judiciary, law reform and legal education.

Juvenile Justice

More Calls to Reform Pa.'s Judicial Conduct System
Law.com, Pennsylvania – June 20, 2011
The advocacy group Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts is the latest to weigh in on the issue of judicial discipline reform. The group released a report Wednesday that expanded on several of the recommendations the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice made a little more than a year ago, but diverged on one key issue: funding for the Judicial Conduct Board and the Court of Judicial Discipline.

Protecting youthful offenders
The Washington Post – June 18, 2011
Every day, some 10,000 juveniles are held in adult jails or prisons at an increased risk of rape and other forms of sexual abuse and violence. Others are held in isolation and experience the emotional and psychological harm that comes from being cut off from human contact. The Justice Department now has an opportunity to address the detention or incarceration protocols for youths charged or convicted as adults.

Chief Justice Starts Juvenile Services Commission
WBOY-TV, Charleston, WV – June 13, 2011
An Adjudicated Juvenile Rehabilitation Review Commission has been established by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman to examine the Division of Juvenile Services’ operations plan and other facilities operated by that division. The commission’s initial plan is to look into the Industrial Home for Youth in Salem and the Honey Rubenstein Center in Davis and report the findings to the Supreme Court.

How Cops Turn 'Stop and Frisk' Into 'Stop and Arrest'
The Root, New York, NY – June 13, 2011
Justice-reform advocates want young Black and Hispanic men to avoid being tricked by police into emptying their pockets. Advocates of drug and juvenile-justice reform have launched a campaign against what they contend are the New York Police Department's illegal "stop and frisks" and the disproportionate number of arrests of Black and Hispanic young men.

Foster Care

Foster father enjoys providing kids with stable home
The Detroit News, Grand Black, MI – June 19, 2011
For people who think foster parents take in children only for the money, Michael Bradley has a message: "If you want to make a small fortune in foster care, start with a large one," he said. The 56-year-old from Grand Blanc has had six foster children since 2008.

Agency to take over foster care for Catholic Charities in Rockford
Chicago Tribune, Ottawa, IL – June 16, 2011
Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley intends to interview and hire the 58 staff members who oversee more than 300 foster children now under the care of Catholic Charities in the Rockford Diocese. The Catholic agency elected to terminate publicly funded foster care and adoption services on June 1 when civil unions went into effect – effective June 30. The Youth Service Bureau does not have criteria for foster parents regarding sexual orientation.

Elderly couple looks to care for 72nd foster child
KPLC-TV, Allentown, PA – June 15, 2011
An elderly couple in Pennsylvania has raised 71 foster kids, and said they're ready for one more. Thomas and Ann Rose said they really want to provide a home for another foster child. "We have children. We have grandchildren. They were getting older, didn't have any babies, so we thought we'd do this," Ann said.

Teen Pregnancy

Augusta Juvenile Court takes aim at teen pregnancy‎
WRDW-TV, Augusta, GA – June 17, 2011
Statistics show Richmond County taxpayers have spent more than $100 million over the last 10 years helping support teen moms and dads. One Juvenile Court Judge says enough is enough with the idea to tackle teen pregnancy with more than $1 million in grant money.

City Planning Program To Curb Teen Pregnancy‎
Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT – June 16, 2011
With a teen pregnancy rate more than three times the state average, city and agency officials are planning an ambitious program to try to curb the problem. With a five-year, $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the city's health and human services department and Office for Youth Services are collaborating on the effort with Planned Parenthood of Southern New England and Hartford Action Plan.